Swimming device.



No. 675,695. Patented June 4, l90l.

' L. C. WHITCOMB.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

(Appl ication filed Jan. 24, 190m (No Modal.)

THE Norms Farm! on. movay moi. Msumamm n. c.

UNirn STATES PATENT QFFICE.

LEWIS G. \VIIITCOMB, OF SPRINGRANCH, NEBRASKA.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,695, dated June 4, 1901.

Application filed January 24, 1901, $erial No. ll,600. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Lnwrs O. Wurroonn, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Sprin granch, in the county of Clay and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Swimming Devices; andldo declare the followingto be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in what may be termed swimming devices or apparatus. It has for its object, among other things, more especially to afford aid in an emergency-ms, for instance, in case of the sinking of a battle-ship, thus providing for great saving of life, shipwreck, or like casualty or accident, as well as to assist a swimmer in propelling himself through the water while it is easily and quickly applied, is adapted to be readily accessible for service, and is simple and inexpensive of manufacture.

It consists of peculiarities of construction and the combination and arrangement of the parts, substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed, and specifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a perspective view. Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sections taken on the lines at a; and y y of Fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the finger-loop-strap-securing clamp or buckle.

Latitude is allowed herein as to details, as they may be changed or varied, according to circumstances, without departing from the spirit of my invention and the same yet remain intact and be protected.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a suitablyshaped paddle or blade 1, preferably of wood, of which two are employed in practice, preferably having feathering lateral and end edges to promote cleaving the water with the minimum resistance as the swimmer propels himself therethrough. Said paddle or blade has at opposite points to the knuckles of the hand of the user or swimmer cavities or seats 2 2, adapted to readily receive and fulcrum the knuckles therein with the movement thereof in manipulating the paddles or blades, thus increasing or augmenting the purchase of the hand thereon.

Suitably rove or passed through holes 3, formed or made in the paddle or blade 1, isa continuous finger-loop'forming strap or web 4, with one end fixed to said paddle or blade by rivet-ing or otherwise, and its other end fastened securely but readily detachably to the blade or paddle. The strap 4- as it is rove through the holes is passed over pins or partitions 5, one arranged in each hole, to provide for forming the finger-receiving loops 6 all upon one and the same side of the paddle or blade by such reeving of such strap, as will be readily appreciated. Also applied to said paddle is a similarly-secured singlelooped strap 2 spanning or bridging the knuckle-cavities to provide for the retention of the paddle upon the hand when the fingers are withdrawn from the loops 6, as in grasping another support.

The fastening or buckle 7 for the one or detachable end of the strap or web 4 consists of a frame 7", of spring-metal wire, preferably bent rectangularly in general outline and reversely bent or looped back upon itself to form continuously therewith cross-bars, as it were, of a plate 7 with a preferably-rounded outer surface, and of a tongue or stud 7, forming a continuation of said wire and extending up through said plate. Said plate is suitably secured to the paddle, with the frame 7 interposed therebetween, rivets or fastenings being passed through said plate and paddle and headed down in place. It will be observed that after the finger-loop-forming strap or web has been passed through the final hole 3 to the left it is carried under the near end bar of the frame of the fastening or buckle, said end bar springing orsnapping back upon the strap. It is thence carried through said buckle, the tongue or stud 7 being inserted into a coincident hole therein, and finally under the other or distant end bar of saidbuckle, also springing or snapping back upon the strap, thus effectually securing the strap at its detachable end to the blade or paddle, as desirable, as will be readily understood. Said paddle or blade has also a similarly-secured and end detachable Wrist or arm loop forming strap 8, one or more, to hold the paddle or blade at that point to the arm or wrist of the swimmer or user. It will also be observed that in the use of my paddle or blade it is readily reversible from the back to the front of the hand, or vice Versa, as may be required, according to the convenience of the user or swimmer in the act of swimming, and that the fingers can easily be withdrawn from the fin ger-receiving loops of the securing-strap to permit the hand to be readily manipulated, as in grasping any other article or support, &c.

The characteristic features of my invention are that it is reversible, feather-edged, lifepreserving, capable of adjustment to accommodate different-sized hands, adapted to receive the knuckles of the hand of the user, is buoyant, can be readily or instantly shifted from the front to the back of the hand or from the back to the front of the hand, as maybe required, and is adapted to permit the untramnieled use of the hand in grasping any other article or support, as in making a place of safety, &c.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 4 1. A device of the character described, comprising a paddle or blade having a series of knuckle-receivin g cavities or seats and means for attaching said paddle or blade to the hand of the swimmer, substantially as set forth.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a paddle or blade having a series of finger-receiving loops and a series of knucklereceiving cavities or seats, substantially as set forth.

3. A device of the character described, comprising 'a paddle or blade having a series of fin ger-receiving loops formed of a continuous or single strap or Web with its ends suitably secured thereto and itself rove through a series of holes in the blade or paddle, substantially as set forth.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a series of finger receiving loops formed of a continuous strap or web with its ends connected to said paddle or blade, and itself rove through a series of holes in said paddle, said holes having arranged therein, a series of pins around which is passed said strap, substantially as set forth.

5. A device of the character described, com= prising a paddle or blade having a finger-loopforming strap, and a fastening or buckle for said strap consisting of a spring metal frame and a plate secured to said paddle and said frame and having a tongue or stud engaging said strap, said frame also adapted to engage the strap, at its ends, substantially as specified.

6. A device of the character described, com

prising a paddle or blade having a finger-loop- 

